The solution that helped Russia transform old T-72 tanks into modern 'killers'.

A series of defensive and firepower upgrades have boosted the power of the aging T-72 tank, ensuring its combat capability in the 21st century.

The first versions of the T-72 were not equipped with explosive reactive armor. Photo: Vitaly Kuzmin

The high cost of the T-14 Armata main battle tank, coupled with limited defense budgets, makes it difficult for the Russian military to deploy thousands of these tanks in the coming years. This forces the Russian Ministry of Defense to modernize older equipment such as the T-72 tank, ensuring their combat capability in a modern warfare environment until a sufficient number of new weapons are available to replace them, according to National Interest.

The Russian Army currently has 2,700 main battle tanks (MBTs) of various types in combat readiness, including 1,900 T-72B tanks, along with 450 T-80s and 350 T-90As. In addition, Moscow is also storing approximately 7,000 T-72 tanks, making them the backbone of the Russian armored forces.

When it first appeared in 1973,The T-72 was considered a formidable weapon on the battlefield. Its compact size, composite armor, and completely new 125 mm smoothbore cannon made the T-72 a major breakthrough compared to the T-62.

The automatic loading system helped to reduce the size of the turret, even though the 2A46M cannon and 125 mm ammunition on the T-72 were larger than those on previous tanks, while also reducing the crew to just three people. The 780 horsepower engine allowed the first T-72 variants to reach a top speed of 60 km/h on paved roads.

The T-72 was equipped with superior armor compared to contemporary main battle tanks of the US and NATO. Its composite armor, a combination of steel and fiberglass, gave the T-72's frontal armor protection equivalent to 450 mm of rolled homogeneous steel (RHA). The T-72B1 version was further enhanced with additional frontal armor, increasing its resistance to Western armor-piercing fragmentation projectiles (APFSDS) by 50%.

Equipping the T-72 tank with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA) doubled its resistance to high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds. By the mid-1980s, the Kontakt-5 version was introduced, allowing the T-72 to maintain its combat capability against the then-advanced American anti-tank missiles such as the TOW.

The T-72B1 model with ERA protection blocks surrounding it. Photo: Vitaly Kuzmin.

The T-72 tank played a leading role in the Soviet Union's mechanized infantry throughout the Cold War and was exported to many countries, including Syria and Iraq. However, they were easily destroyed in conflicts in the Middle East, mainly due to inadequate training and poor command. Several weaknesses of the export T-72 variant were also evident, such as ammunition penetration that was only half that of the Soviet T-72, poor fire control and night vision systems, and the lack of composite armor and ERA.

The economic crisis in Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union forced the country to cut its defense budget, canceling many projects to build new-generation tanks. This meant the T-72 remained the backbone of the Russian army, and was subsequently upgraded with new HEAT ammunition and anti-tank missiles.

Improved economic conditions in the 2000s provided Moscow with the funds for military modernization projects. The most modern version, the T-72B3, was introduced in 2010 with the goal of enhancing the combat capabilities of the aging T-72B tanks.

This upgrade package provides the Kalina fire control system and a completely new ballistic computer. Gunners can aim at longer distances and with greater accuracy thanks to the multi-channel sighting system, while protection is enhanced by Kontakt-5 ERA arrays arranged in the configuration of the T-90A tank.

In early April this year, the Russian army unveiled the upgraded T-72B3 model for the first time during a Victory Day parade rehearsal. This version is equipped with many new defense systems, borrowed from the T-90A and T-90MS tanks.

The most striking feature is the Kaktus explosive reactive armor (ADR) modules installed on both sides of the rear of the turret, replacing the tank's spare parts boxes. The rear of the turret, the tail of the vehicle, and both sides of the engine are fitted with cage armor, providing more effective HEAT protection. The front of the hull is fitted with Relikt ADR modules, similar to those on the T-90MS.

The modernized T-72B3 tank was unveiled by Russia in the middle of this year. Photo: Vitaly Kuzmin.

The sides of the tank are also covered with a new steel-rubber armor layer, capable of detonating HEAT warheads before they penetrate the main armor. The undercarriage has been modified to increase mine resistance compared to older T-72 versions.

The offensive capabilities of this T-72B3 variant have also been significantly improved, including the installation of the Sosna-U fire control system with thermal imaging sight from the T-90MS. This system allows the T-72B3 to fight day and night, in all weather conditions. Sosna-U also gives this model a hunter-killer capability. The tank commander can search for and aim the gun at the target, while the gunner only needs to adjust the aiming line precisely and fire. Meanwhile, the commander continues to detect new targets.

The tank uses the 2A46M5-01 main gun, allowing it to fire modern anti-tank missiles such as the 9M119 Svir, 9M119M Refleks, and many new generation kinetic energy rounds. Previous T-72 models used older guns and automatic loading systems, making them incapable of firing the new types of ammunition designed by Russia.

Russian armored forces will likely use T-14 Armata and T-80U tanks as the spearhead for deep penetration, while the T-90A and T-72B3 will accompany the mechanized infantry formations behind them. This means that modernized T-72s will still play an important role on the future battlefield, at least until Moscow is in a position to replace its entire force with newer tanks, according to expert Kyle Mizokami.

According to VNE